Do I need a company to receive from abroad?

Not necessarily. You can receive as an individual, but taxation tends to be higher. For recurring dollar income, receiving as a business is usually more efficient, since it lets you issue service-export invoices and use lighter tax regimes.

What is the cheapest way to receive dollars in Brazil?

Cost is the sum of FX, fees and IOF. Dollar accounts on stablecoin rails, like Ruvo, deliver the operation for under 1% with 0% IOF, versus 4% to 8% at traditional banks over SWIFT.

Can I hold the money in dollars instead of converting to reais?

Yes. With Ruvo you hold the balance in dollars (USDT/USDC) and convert to reais whenever you want, taking advantage of better FX moments instead of converting everything the moment money arrives.

How long does the money take to arrive?

Over traditional SWIFT, 1 to 5 business days. With Ruvo, settlement to reais is done via Pix in seconds, and dollars become available as soon as the payment is confirmed.

What is the difference between receiving via SWIFT and via ACH?

SWIFT is a messaging network used by most banks worldwide — it reaches almost everywhere but costs more and takes 2–3 business days. ACH is a direct US bank-to-bank rail — faster (usually 1–2 days) and cheaper. Ruvo accepts both. If your client pays from a US bank, ACH is usually preferable. If they pay from outside the US, SWIFT is the standard path.

Can I receive directly in stablecoins (USDT or USDC)?

Yes. Ruvo accepts USDT and USDC directly to your wallet address. This is the fastest option for international payments — typically settled in minutes. Some clients and platforms prefer sending stablecoins over wire transfers. Once received, you can hold the balance, convert to reais, or send it onward.

For freelancers & businesses

Receiving from abroad as a freelancer or business

FreelancersPJUSDReceiving from abroad

Everything Brazilians earning in dollars need to know to get paid faster, pay lower fees, and cut IOF to zero.

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PF or PJ: the first decision

The most consequential choice for a Brazilian earning from abroad is the legal structure. Receiving as an individual (PF) is simple — no CNPJ required — but income is taxed at progressive IRPF rates reaching 27.5%, with limited deductions. Receiving as a business (PJ) under Simples Nacional can reduce the effective rate to 6–17% on service revenue, with ISS typically exempt on exports. The trade-off is accounting fees and CNPJ maintenance. For most professionals consistently earning above R$3,000–5,000/month from foreign sources, PJ is worth it. See the full PF vs PJ comparison.

What receiving dollars actually costs

The cost of an international receipt is the sum of three things: IOF on the conversion, the FX spread baked into the exchange rate, and any transfer fees. Traditional platforms (Wise, Nomad) charge IOF of 1.1%–3.5% when converting reais to dollars. Ruvo holds dollars without triggering IOF on the inbound transfer, and charges a flat 0.3% (PJ) or 0.5% (PF) only when you convert. Over a year of $5,000/month receipts, the IOF difference alone is worth thousands of reais. Read the best-account comparison or see how to lower fees on a USD salary.

Platforms and payment rails

How money reaches you depends on where it comes from. A US company paying by ACH sends directly to your US account number — fast and cheap. International wire (SWIFT) works from almost anywhere but costs more and takes 2–3 days. Freelancing marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr) have their own withdrawal options — connecting to a US bank account (ACH) is almost always cheaper than withdrawing to a Brazilian bank. Crypto (USDT/USDC) is the fastest and cheapest rail for those whose clients can send it. Compare the main earning platforms and how they pay out.

Taxes on foreign income in Brazil

Foreign income is taxable in Brazil regardless of how it arrives. As a PF, monthly carnê-leão applies the IRPF table to income received from abroad. As a PJ, the income is recognised under your tax regime — Simples, Lucro Presumido or Lucro Real. ISS on services rendered to foreign clients is generally exempt under Lei Complementar 116/2003. IRRF (withholding) by the foreign client may apply in some countries and can be credited in Brazil under applicable tax treaties. Full breakdown of taxes on service exports.

Remote work: contractor versus employee

Working remotely for a foreign company can take two legal forms. As an independent contractor, you invoice in USD, control when you convert, and bear your own tax and social security obligations in Brazil. As an employee via an Employer of Record (EOR) such as Deel or Remote.com, a local Brazilian entity employs you under CLT, you receive reais, and the foreign company handles payroll. Contractors earn more per dollar but carry more administrative responsibility. Read the full guide to working for a foreign employer.

A complete setup in practice

The most efficient setup for a Brazilian developer or service professional earning $5,000/month: open a PJ account with Simples Nacional, receive via ACH to a US dollar account, hold the balance in dollars, convert monthly only what you need for reais expenses, and pay IOF-free with a dollar card abroad. This structure typically saves R$1,500–3,000/month versus receiving via a traditional bank wire and converting immediately. See the full worked example at $5k/month.

How to receive money from abroad

The step-by-step for receiving international payments as a business.

PF vs PJ

Understand the tax implications, costs, and paperwork involved in receiving international payments as PF or PJ.

How to receive USD as a PJ

Dollar account, contracts, invoicing and FX for PJs.

Best account to receive USD

The criteria that matter: fees, spread, IOF, card and speed.

How to receive a USD salary in Brazil and pay lower fees

Where fees hide on dollar salary payments and how to keep more of your income.

Platforms to earn from abroad

Where to find international clients and how to get paid friction-free.

Business tax on exported services

Service exports, invoicing and tax regimes, in plain language.

Working remotely for foreign companies

How to set yourself up to work and get paid from abroad in Brazil.

Case Study: Brazilian dev earning $5k

How much is lost to FX and how much you can actually save.

What customers love about Ruvo

Hear how Ruvo transforms financial journeys

“

Saves money. The smartest option for CNPJs.

David Kang

Software Engineer, Turn.io

“

Ruvo simplifies our entire international financial workflow.

Joao Alvarenga

CEO, Antonnia AI

“

The best option for earning in USD.

Bruno Pazinato

Staff Engineer, Salsa

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from freelancers and businesses receiving from abroad.

Talk to support

Not necessarily. You can receive as an individual, but taxation tends to be higher. For recurring dollar income, receiving as a business is usually more efficient, since it lets you issue service-export invoices and use lighter tax regimes.
Cost is the sum of FX, fees and IOF. Dollar accounts on stablecoin rails, like Ruvo, deliver the operation for under 1% with 0% IOF, versus 4% to 8% at traditional banks over SWIFT.
Yes. With Ruvo you hold the balance in dollars (USDT/USDC) and convert to reais whenever you want, taking advantage of better FX moments instead of converting everything the moment money arrives.
Over traditional SWIFT, 1 to 5 business days. With Ruvo, settlement to reais is done via Pix in seconds, and dollars become available as soon as the payment is confirmed.
SWIFT is a messaging network used by most banks worldwide — it reaches almost everywhere but costs more and takes 2–3 business days. ACH is a direct US bank-to-bank rail — faster (usually 1–2 days) and cheaper. Ruvo accepts both. If your client pays from a US bank, ACH is usually preferable. If they pay from outside the US, SWIFT is the standard path.
Yes. Ruvo accepts USDT and USDC directly to your wallet address. This is the fastest option for international payments — typically settled in minutes. Some clients and platforms prefer sending stablecoins over wire transfers. Once received, you can hold the balance, convert to reais, or send it onward.

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